Maternity Pics of Snowflake

I know, it's taken me absolutely forever to get around to this. But here are some of my favorites, finally!!  These are of my bestie Jennie, and I must say, pregnancy suits her!

Short but sweet.

Whew! What have I been up to lately? Here's a quick summary.

 

I took Jennie's maternity pics. I'll put pictures up soon-ish.

 

Tiffany and I threw Jennie her baby shower at my house. It was SO much fun!

 

Camden got sick.

 

I got sick.

 

We are still sick.

 

We transitioned to toddler bed. It's much harder than I thought. Maybe it would have been fine if we had waited another couple of months, but he was already bailing out WAY too often.

 

We are helping every week night with At The Movies setup for church. Our lobby area is going to look like Ice Age! I'm super pumped because it's coming along nicely. Fog machines, big wooly mammoths, lights and ice caves galore! It should look fantastic.

 

It's hot here, but is seems to be hot everywhere.

 

And that's all for now. Hopefully more later!

22 Months.

Dearest little one who is not so little anymore,

 

How did you get to be so big? I can't believe you are less than two months away from being TWO! You are so big now. You are now 22 months, you were born on the 22nd, and 22 is my lucky number. I hope that means we are in for a great month! 

 

This past month I feel like you have continued to spurt up in all of your milestones. You are running all over the place, all the time. You are starting to string two and three word sentences together more and more. The other day I went to pick you up from school and I swear you said "open the door please" and I about fell over. Since when did you talk like that? We are continuing to work on your please and thank you, as well as your tendency to flail around when you are upset. Fit throwing happens pretty often nowadays, but we are trying to teach you how to communicate through them. 

 

You take after your hard headed daddy in so many ways. You like to be independent, and even though I have tried to teach you the word 'help', it's like you are determined to NOT use it. You are constantly swiping our hands away or saying "no" or "move" when you want to be left alone to figure things out for yourself. We've always known you were strong willed, and boy you are really showing it!

This past month you managed to injure yourself pretty impressively. You pulled a heavy lawn chair across your toe, causing your toenail to bend back and bleed. You cried pretty hard, and finally after three weeks your toenail came off. Now you just have a cavernous hole that looks like a toenail is there, but upon inspection you can see that this isn't the case. You also managed to fall off of said lawn chair and bruise your head, as well as fall out of the car at the same time. You continue to trip over your feet daily, they are so pigeon toed I can't say I blame you. If they were my feet, I'd be doing the same! You got another ear infection, your second with tubes. I'll count it as the second because the first was a result of a clogged tube after putting them in back in September. That means we were clear for 8 months. I'll take an ear infection any day with tubes, because this means that they don't hurt as bad and I know what the problem is as soon as I see drainage. You didn't seem to be too bothered besides a couple of nights of uninterrupted sleep.

 

Speaking of sleep, I feel like you are sleeping less and less these days. You will occasionally take a 45 minute power nap at church, and that usually means that you will refuse your nap that day. Also, you are going to bed later and later and hardly sleeping in. I'm not a fan because I think sleep is so important, but I can't force you to sleep! Also, regarding sleep, you tend to be waking at night and I think that your ear was the main reason. You popped out of bed Monday morning at 4 am, didn't make a sound or cry, and next thing your Dad and I hear is the pat-pat-pat of your little feet running down a dark hallway. Dazed we both sat up in bed trying to figure out what just happened, and that's when we saw your door wide open and knew you had jumped ship. Your Daddy found you in the living room with Scout, the teddy bear that sings songs. You fought going back to bed, but finally gave in.

 

You are loving swim time at Grandma's, but you are so picky about it. You prefer to play on the edges with your toys, or spend your time filling up water bottles and then dumping them in the skimmer. You repeat this process over and over. And over. And you don't like to be interrupted to go play in the water unless you ask for it! You are such a goof.

 

I feel like your appetite isn't as huge as it has been in the past, lots of times I swear you only get a little fruit and a lot of milk for your dinner. I do think you could live entirely on fruit snacks and milk if needed. You can wolf down a packet of fruit snacks that grandma gives you for the car ride home before we are completely out of the neighborhood.

 

You love visiting Grandpa after school when we pick up Pearl.You love watching him do his 'magic' tricks where he pulls a ribbon out of your ear or your belly button, and you enjoy doing art with him. You are quick to climb up in his lap now for a snack and to draw a picture, it's pretty stinkin' cute.

 

Your favorite shows continue to be Bubble Guppies and you like to watch "Mick-mee woom" after bathtime. Lately you've even started saying "Mick Mouse" or "Mick-mee Mouse". It's pretty darn adorable.

You are wearing most 18-24 month clothes, some stuff as big as 2T. Your Daddy is in denial that you can wear 2T shirts, he still doesn't dress you in them that much. You are wearing a size 5 shoe, and a size 5 diaper that is big on you. You weigh approximately 25.4 pounds, and you can officially stand on the scale and get weighed at the pediatrician. It's been like that for a while, but it's still a shock to Momma. You got weighed a mere four days before this posting, so that's pretty accurate to this posting. (darn those ear infections)

 

We are working on doing 'light' potty training. When I say 'light', it's that we aren't doing anything serious. We usually take your diaper off you before bathtime and have you sit on "Melmo" (its an Elmo potty seat). You know that if you have success and potty you get an "EM n EM" and you'll be for one even if you aren't successful.  I think you could possibly be the youngest kid ever to get a hernia with the way you sit on the pot. You want and M&M so bad that you push, and when you do you turn red and shake, and you'll work SO hard for those two little drips of pee that earn you a piece of chocolate. Who knew chocolate could be so rewarding? The other night you sat down on you potty and pushed so hard you got a one and a two. Daddy was in charge of pottying at the time and lets just say he was less than thrilled. I found it hilarious! :)

You are not biting as much now that your teeth are through, and we are reading your new favorite book "Teeth Are Not for Biting" thanks to Aunt Marcie. You did have another instance where you got bit at school, come to find out you didn't retaliate (yay!) but you started it by shoving the other kid (boo). Can't win 'em all I suppose!

 

Love you to the moon and back!

Mommy

Weekend Randoms

The past weekend was fantastic. I love feeling like I conquered the weekend. Friday night was a chill night. I was so tired from lack of sleep during the week (going out with friends, staying out late taking pictures, a non sleeping little C), that I couldn't manage enough effort to do ANYTHING. 

 

Saturday I awoke with a vengence. I was up early and I headed to a nearby town to take a few more maternity photos of my dear friend Jennie. We took pictures at their house and in sweet Kinley's nursery before I headed home. Once home, I began my efforts to clean clean clean! I got a bunch of deep cleaning while Chris managed to hang some pictures that needed to be hung and even touch up paint on the baseboards. I worked my way through piles of laundry and worked on a few crafts even. Before I knew it, it was time to pick up little C. We headed over to Hobby Lobby where we got more crafting things, then to the grocery store. That evening we played, cleaned some more, washed cars and chilled before it was time to go to bed. 

 

Sunday we hit up church and got our volunteer on. Afterwards I busied myself with crafts, steam mopping the floors and making pretzels for Jennie's shower. I even managed to clip and bathe the dog! Then we went to my parents to give my dad his Father's Day gift, then to Husband's parents to see them. Afterwards it was back home where the little mister was finally starting to crash after refusing to take a nap.

 

So, I mentioned that the littlest C hasn't been sleeping so hot. Well, last Thursday night the little turkey woke up four, that's right - count 'em, FOUR times. By the fourth time it was Husband's turn to go in there and put the little man to sleep, and he did so by demanding that he "lay down!". The other three times little C wanted to cuddle so I wasn't sure if he was just wanting me, or if something was wrong. Everything seemed okay, so it was hard to tell. Little man has been extra clingy lately so it was a crapshoot. Hearing him call out "mommmmmmmaaa" all night was heartbreaking and exhausting! Friday night he slept fine, but it was Saturday morning when we noticed an oozy ear. Gr-ross! So maybe that was the culprit? Luckily, I dug around and found his old ear drops and have been using thouse until I can get him to the doctor. Homeboy has been sleeping okay still, so I had no idea what was up.

 

So lets fast forward to Sunday night. Everything is going great until, oh about four a.m. It gets quiet and husband and I hear the noise of little feet slapping on the floor. What was it you ask? Oh, he climbed out of his crib AGAIN. No crying, fussing or anything. He woke up and just up and decided it was time to get out and run around. This is another reason I don't think I am NEAR ready to let a toddler bed happen.

I ran errands around like crazy on Monday afternoon, taking the little C to his doctor and picking up his prescription and then the dog, etc, etc. The doctor said some interesting things - one he asked if his nose was super runny and green. It wasn't last time, but it was MAJORLY nasty last week. And come to think of it, his nose stopped up and when it did? His ear started oozing. I never really put two and two together about how they are connected. He said if his nose were still running and green AND his ear was oozing he would have to be on drops for his ear as well as oral antibiotics. SICK! I am so so so so thankful that the nose oozing is gone because I was hoping to avoid an antibiotic. 

So, that's where we are right now. Oozing ear. Climbing out of bed. Lack of sleep. Ya know, the norm!!! 

Have a good week y'all!!!

Thicker Skin

I think in my job profession, I have had to learn to grow a thicker skin. Don't get me wrong, I am still a very sensitive person. But something about working in the medical field sort of makes you go 'numb' to certain things. I don't know what got me thinking about this lately, but I did. I remembered how sensitive and thin skinned I was when I was younger. I remember a time when my mom said she'd pick me up from gymnastics and she was late, and how I got so worried sitting outside alone, that I couldn't do anything but cry. Of course, the thought of being forgotten is scary, but looking back on it - I definitely could have used a chill pill. I think working in the mental health field has taught me so much about people. When I first started I would get so attached to my patients. When I would come in the next morning just to hear that they passed away the previous evening after I had left work, my heart would break and I would take it so personal. I remember who my first patient was that died and crying after I found out. I remember watching my first person code, and the doctors running through the hospital and nurses grabbing crash carts and watch them desperately try to revive them, sometimes jumping onto the bed with them to give CPR or intubate. I never found it scary, just upsetting as I usually knew that person not just as a patient but an elder or someone to respect, a person with needs or desires, a sweet soul who needed some TLC.

 

Lately it seems that I am saddened to hear of the death of another patient, but I have no tears left to shed. It is the way it is supposed to be, and so many of these patients are just tormented by their diseases. I'm not meaning to sound insensitive here, but it is the truth.

 

Another completely unrelated way I have grown a thicker skin is through my marriage. And no, not because of the way my husband treats me (that's not what I'm insinuating), but because of the way I have observed my husband just shrug things off that you would think would bother him. Customers cuss him out at work and he just lets it go. People say they are mad at him for something and he will do what he can to repair the situation but if they are still mad? He says "that's their problem. Nothing else I can do", and he just doesn't let it bother him. He has an uncanny ability to leave his work at work.

 

I admire that. And because of that I have learned to not care what people say or think about me. It doesn't matter really, cause in the end the only thing that matters is my little family. I don't let things bother me. If you have a problem with me and there's nothing else that can be done? So be it.

 

So I can thank my job, and my thick skinned husband for teaching me and giving me examples of how to focus on the important stuff in life. Its been a lesson learned that comes in handy. Compassion is still very necessary, but understanding disease processes or people's anger is important to grasp, and knowing that "it's just how it is", is such a good lesson to learn. So for now? When I see someone very sick that I know may not make it much longer? The best thing for me to do is pray for them. Pray for their families. And know that things always happen for a reason.

Midweekish Randoms.

Some exciting things have been going on and are coming around these parts!

My bestie Tiffany got engaged on her amazing trip to Australia!! Woot! So it looks like we will be planning more showers/parties!

My bestie Jennie who is due to have her precious little Snowflake mid July, has asked me to her maternity pictures here in a week in a half. I am SO nervous and excited at the same time. I think I can get some great shots, but this is my first 'official' shoot so I will have to really pay attention to my lighting and backgrounds when shooting.  Wish me luck for sure!

In addition to taking J's maternity pics, but we are hosting her shower at my house on the 23rd! I have been crafting and planning for a while now, trying to do little bits and pieces here and there when I can, and when the little mister is down for nap.

I have been busy getting MRIs through work to get some extra cash. It's kind of a pain in the butt but hopefully it will be worth it when the extra rolls in that I can put in Camden's savings account. They are doing research on people with different mental health issues, however I don't qualify for any of those (fooled you, right?? haha) so they are using my brain as the 'control brain' and they stick me in there for only an hour at a time (the other people's last 4 hours at a time) and they do simple tests just to make sure that their machine is working properly. So that's interesting. Each time I go in, I have to take a pregnancy test to prove that I am in fact NOT pregnant, then they pack me into the machine and tell me not to fall asleep. That may be the hardest part ever! Still waiting to get a check though, so we will see what the payoff is!

It is finally raining a little bit around these parts, it was getting awful dry. So dry that Camden was even waking up with bloody boogers on his face. It is so weird to have such a lack of humidity here.

That's all I have for now, I have a whole list of things I need to be doing right now! ;) xoxo

Sprinkler Fun

I took this video a few weeks ago of Camden watching Pearl in the sprinklers. I love his laugh. I just can't get enough, so I quickly busted out my iPhone so I could take this video while he was giving this precious giggle.

Catching up

Sorry blog, for being MIA lately. So much goes on sometimes that I can't even keep my head straight. I have been so busy lately. And the busy-ness this past week just caught up to me. By Thursday I was a cranky irritable mess. I couldn't wait to for the weekend to arrive. I don't know if it was a combination of not having two days off in a row for over 2 weeks or what, but the 4 days of working this past week just pushed me a little over the edge. On top of that, I didn't get any workouts in. So, by the time this weekend rolled around, I really needed it. 

Thankfully, this weekend was just what the doctor ordered. We went to our first Lifegroup on Friday night and it was a breath of fresh air. We slept in late the next morning, until 8 am! I sternly warned husband NOT TO WAKE ME, the night before. (And yes, I probably said it just like that). I was happily sleeping when husband decided he was going to break the rules a little. Silly boy cooked me egg in a hole toast, and stuck it right by my nose in bed. I smelled it, and therefore woke up at 8. It wasn't so bad, not with breakfast in bed. Plus, sleeping til 8 am? I don't remember the last time I did that.

On to a few pictures.

I caught Camden playing with my iPhone the other day, and he was randomly in the Places feature. Look what was pinpointed? I found that odd. I don't really know where this is either, just thought it was pretty cool.

This would be a picture of Camden's left toe. It has far less toenail than even this picture now. Last weekend he pulled a heavy lawn chair over it, bending the nail back and causing it to bleed. He cried pretty hard at first, then once we kissed it he was okay. He has spent the last week pointing and telling us "toe". He hasn't been too fond of wearing bandaids, until we bought the Mickey Mouse ones. He thought those were pretty darn cool. We do think he will end up losing that toenail, as it seems to lift up more and more each day.

This picture is from one of our walks around the neighborhood. On the way home a neighbor has this bench at the end of his yard. Camden almost ALWAYS climbs up on it. This day he apparently needed a little rest break to make it the rest of the way home. I edited this photo with a new app I found in the app store called Snapseed. It seems lots of fun, I just haven't figured it all out yet.

A picture from the walk. He insisted on wearing his shades. My little tow-head.

This gum is addicting. I LOVE it. The girls at work introduced me to this flavor and since then there has been no looking back. The hard part is that it is difficult to find. Between all of us at work, we've searched most of the area Targets!!

We've been doing more family exercising if we can. Here we took a bike ride around then rode our bikes up to the local sno cone stand. It was Camden's first sno cone, and I'd say it was a success. It was a nice family evening too!!

Get it done little C!

Signing that it was "all done". We will definitely be hitting up that stand again. In fact, I think we are going to go for bike rides here in a bit to feed the geese nearby and then have an evening snocone. I really needed this weekend, and we still have Sunday Funday planned of church and swimming after naptime. Sound glorious right?

Have a fantastic weekend!